talkmagic.co.uk

Title: “World Greatest Sponge Magic DVD”
Supplier: NothingUpMySleeve.co.uk
Cost: £ 18.00

Difficulty: 3
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used, 4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Prologue (1) How I Learned To Love Spongeballs:
If your a magician you probably have a spongeball or four skulking at the bottom of your closeup case. Once and while you'll pull them out, do a quick vanish then throw them back asking yourself why you ever invested in such nonsense. Like most magicians I used to hate spongeball magic. This is also a position put forward by Eugene Burger on the above DVD, but he also points out that it is one of the most visual and appealing forms of magic for the layman. The screams of delight are the only reason he continues to do these effects.

I have two additional reasons for my spongeball antics. Firstly I have two small children who are far too young to appreciate my card chops. This is my way of enjoying magic with them. Secondly, the various handlings in spongeball magic are fairly simple, but strong routining requires a good understanding of misdirection. If you want to get a firm grasp on spectator management, I believe spongeballs are the way to go.

Prologue (2) How I Learned To Love DVD:
I stopped buying videos and DVDs a long time ago, unless the material wasn't available in paper form. I kept finding again and again that I felt short changed by the material presented on DVDs. The recent publication of the Worlds Greatest series seemed to be a case in point; a straight forward attempt by L&L to create a few more bucks from its video library. Well, if this DVD is anything to go by, then this is no bad thing. Rather than running around trying to find the odd spongeball routine here and there you now have a compendium of routines and ideas. Roll on the Greatest Magic series, and put me down for the cups and ball DVD when it appears.

Review:
So now I've defended my spongeball position, heres the review of the DVD. Firstly this probably isn't for the beginner, I'd go for Sankeys Earplugs if your just starting out with spongeballs. This DVD is however the perfect partner to aforementioned DVD as it provides 13 different routines and ideas from masters of the spongy ball.

My personal favourites being:

Daryl: The magicians magician gives you the low down on a simple commercial spongeball routine.

Frank Garcia: The king of the spongeball takes a look at a couple of vanishes and the 10 count.

Aldo Colombini: Without beard! Aldo does a really nice sequence with a kicker ending.

Eugene Burger: Count the ways in which this man hates spongeballs, but he does have a nice handling. Squeakers at the ready.

Mark Leveridge: The finer points of sponge ball management, and a really nice vanish.

Johnny Thompson: Bensons bowl routine in all its glory.

Steve Dacri: Worth the price of the DVD alone, (Note to self: stop stealing lorayne lines). This really is the highlight of the DVD, which is odd as I thought it would be Garcia. Steve not only goes through a very nice handling, he introduces some very nice ideas and some great tips on the retention vanish. Even slowed down with 2.5 inch balls his RV has to be seen to be believed.

Michael Finney: Very funny, and despite the fact I'm not a comic magician this is going to make its way into my routine. Giant spongeballs at the ready. Love the kicker too, although the questionable mullet is slightly offputting.

Overall:
This DVD is an outstanding resource for devotees of the spongy ball. If you've got the basics down and need some routining ideas, you won't go wrong here. Its also great to see such a wide variety of expert performances and there should be something for everyone here. If this is the form we can expect from the Worlds Greatest series, there is much to look forward to.

The only failing is the lack of explanation on the basic sleights. If this had been included, this would have been an outstanding standalone product. As it is, if you've got the basics, then you probably need this DVD to move your routines on from the basics. More Frank Garcia would have been nice too. Apart from that... spongeballs at the ready.

Effects: 10/10 (For spongeballs anyway)
Quality: 7/10 (Mix of video sources, so mix of quality).
Value For Money: 8/10 (You may already have some of this on tape)

The only failing is the lack of explanation on the basic sleights.

What's missing exactly? I only have the sleights from the actual packet, will I be lost?

Option wrote:

The only failing is the lack of explanation on the basic sleights.

What's missing exactly? I only have the sleights from the actual packet, will I be lost?

You do get some advice on RV, 10 count, the split, pop up move and a few others, but in most cases these aren't indepth explanations. My advice is to either get hold of something like Sankeys earplugs DVD, or better still find someone with the knowledge at your local club and learn by osmosis.

I maybe overstating the case, but I wouldn't want anyone buying this under false pretences. Of course if you do like your spongeballs you probably need to buy this DVD anyway.

Clear as mud eh!

Arr. that's too bad. I won't have a club till I go home in Sep
Wanted somtehting that would take me from basic all the way to advanced...

Option wrote:Arr. that's too bad. I won't have a club till I go home in Sep
Wanted somtehting that would take me from basic all the way to advanced...

Get Sankeys Earplugs to get you started. Unlike other areas of magic if you get a couple DVDs for spongeball, your pretty much covered. Although Sankey only has three routines and IMHO the explanation feels a little rushed its a great starting point. Once you've got the basics down, then you can move onto more complex presentations. The DVD reviewed above is simply a great way of saving you time and money. Rather than buying up 13 different performer videos for their spongeball routines, its a collection of some great routines from the experts. Its step two on the journey to mastering spongeballs. I'm still trying to work out what step three is.

The great thing about spongeball magic, is that so few people do it; and as I said in my review, despite most magicians dislike for the genre, mr and mrs speccy love it.

I have to agree with Mr Jamez... personally, I hate performing sponge magic, but whenever I do, it goes down a storm.

Especially since I integrated it with Dlites... using a red Dlite to 'pluck' light out of the air and turn it into a never ending stream of sponges is both simple and visual. Very effective.

Also, bear in mind that spongeballs can be a great icebreaker. Used as an opener, they can break down all barriers between magician and audience, as usually sponge stuff is humourous and innocent... even complex routines.

The DVD reviewed above is an excellent cross section showing the versatility of sponge magic. Heck, even Eugene Burger has a routine on there.

My advice with the 'Worlds Greatest' series is that some of it you may already own, some of it is quite rare. I have the 'Worlds Greatest Card Warp' also in the shop, and it is more of the same—the world's most prominent (well, some of them) magicians showing their own takes on the routine.

You can't walk into these 'fresh'. You'lll need SOME knowlege of whatever genre you undertake to get full advantage.

Even Mrs Seige can now do basic spongeball stuff, just after watching this DVD, however.

seige wrote:You can't walk into these 'fresh'. You'lll need SOME knowlege of whatever genre you undertake to get full advantage.

Even Mrs Seige can now do basic spongeball stuff, just after watching this DVD, however.

I was worried I'd over stated the case, and I'm still undecided. I saw the various handlings in the DVD as just that, variations; and there is a requirement for the basics before going into it. You need to pick up magic in a progressive way. If you try to run before you can walk then you'll end up doing neither. Most of us do it at some point or another, which is why support of other magicians is important. You can of course ignore their advice, but at least you were told.

I quite like sponges purely because of the in the hand reactions - something I have recently started is the old one in the pocket, one in the hand, one in the pocket ----> 3 in the hand but instead of usin 3 read sponges (or whatever colour) I use 1 blue, 1 green and one read I may have to check this out nice review btw.

Thanks. The problem with spongeballs is that once you do ball to pocket and multiplier in the hands your pretty much done. Although Steve Dacri has an interesting take on it with a faux explanation on the DVD, which is really worth a look. I still think that if you don't appreciate the limitations of spongeball work you won't be able to appreciate the variations presented on the DVD.

Like the idea of different coloured balls by the way. Whens the video going up on TM?

I might put it up, the only problem is it's a bit more angle sensative because of the different colours.